September 19
One of Christ's last commands to His disciples was "Love one another as I have loved you." John 13:34. Do we obey this command, or are we indulging sharp, unchristlike traits of character? If we have in any way grieved or wounded others, it is our duty to confess our fault and seek for reconciliation. This is an essential preparation that we may come before God in faith, to ask His blessing.
Christ's Object Lessons, p.144
Serendipity is the word we use to describe an event that happens by chance and reveals something good. A serendipitous event is one where I get a big bill for my car when it failed it’s MOT – but that very morning I get a good amount of money in a tax return to help cover the cost. Sadly that didn’t happen, but you get the idea?
The serendipitous event is that we read here that it is good when we seek to deal with hurt when we have wounded or grieved others. In our Sabbath School lesson this morning we read how we can seek to be reconciled to someone who we have hurt.
Actually this occurrence is not about good fortune but reveals the great importance of dealing with hurt and pain that has been caused between people. If we don’t resolve issues like this on a personal level it affects our relationship with God and makes our prayer life less effective – to the point of potential uselessness.
To not resolve hurt or pain by seeking forgiveness is saying to God, ‘I don’t trust your ways’ or ‘I don’t have faith in your methods’. To not seek reconciliation is to cut God out of an area of our lives.
If we have cut God out of our lives we are revealing that we have only a partial inclusion of God in our prayer lives.
You will be praying for the Holy Spirit today. How about first going to anyone you have offended, or who has offended you, and resolving that wrong first? The offer your gift at the altar?
